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Maple Grove is an 8-story, 70-unit contemporary apartment building at 1501 Maple Ave in Evanston.
The T-shaped building was built in 1966 and has since been renovated. The building’s front façade has been replaced, giving it a crisper, more modern look.
The apartments
Maple Grove has a mix of studio, 1-, 2-bedroom, 2-bath and 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartments. In late-December 2014 rents started at $1,094 to $2,125 depending on apartment size. Floor plans are available online. Furnished apartments are available at additional cost.
The apartments have wood-look floors in living / dining areas and carpeted bedrooms.
Kitchens and baths have been updated. The kitchens have maple cabinets, ample cabinet and counter space, and an appliance package that includes a dishwasher, built-in microwave and electric range. Some of the kitchens have breakfast bars.
The apartments have reasonably good closet space with organizer shelving. Higher-floor units have good city and skyline views.
The apartments have baseboard heat, ceiling fans and through-the-wall air-conditioning units.
Amenities, services, policies
Maple Grove has an unusually good suite of common-area amenities for a building its size and age.
There’s a fitness room, a laundry room, a rooftop sundeck and a business center with Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi service is also available in the lobby. The building has a bicycle storage area
Outdoor, covered and garage parking spaces are available on-site.
Maple Grove is pet-friendly, subject to limits. The building has on-site management staff.
The location
Maple Grove is just south of Davis St, at the edge of downtown Evanston. The location is close to shopping, bars, restaurants, coffee shops and public transportation.
Maple Grove is just about three-quarters of a mile from the Northwestern University campus.
The McGaw YMCA, which has extensive swimming, fitness and other facilities, and reasonable membership rates, is at the north end of the block from Maple Grove.
Shopping. Maple Grove has good proximity to retail shops in downtown Evanston and along Davis St.
Whole Foods, the nearest full-service grocery, is about a half-mile northeast on Chicago Ave. The nearest Jewel-Osco a half-mile southeast on Chicago Ave. Davis Pantry, a convenience store, is two short blocks north of Maple Grove.
Downtown Evanston offers an eclectic mix of locally-owned boutiques and name-brand retailers.
Residents of Maple Grove who are setting up their first apartment will find much of what they need just north of the building on Davis at Lemoi Ace Hardware and Affordable Portables.
Cycling enthusiasts will want to check out the huge selection at Wheel & Sprocket on Davis.
The upscale Westfield Old Orchard shopping center, anchored by Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom, is about 3 ½ miles west of Maple Grove, and accessible by bus.
Dining, nightlife, entertainment. There are dozens of restaurants and bars within walking distance of Maple Grove.
Walk along Davis St west of the Metra tracks and you’ll feel a great neighborhood vibe, passing a variety of locally-owned restaurants and shops. Cozy Noodles, Delbe’s Corner Café, Asian Express, Dream about Tea and Gigio’s Pizzeria are within a few minutes’ walk of Maple Grove. The restaurant scene grows even denser as you head east of the tracks on Davis.
Bennison’s Bakery at Davis and Maple traces its history to 1938. Third-generation family members serve up savories that draw rave reviews.
You won’t find much of a club scene in Evanston, but you will find drinking establishments ranging from Bar Louie to Tommy Nevin’s within two blocks of Maple Grove.
The Century 12 Cinemark movie theater is a few blocks from Maple Grove. Evanston has a respectable live theatre scene.
A number of Evanston’s street festivals and outdoor concerts take place within walking distance of Maple Grove
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Parks, recreation. The location is not convenient to public parks and outdoor recreational areas. Alexander Park, a small park with a playground and chess tables, is a block west of Maple Grove.
Evanston’s public beaches are less than a mile from the building.
Transportation. Residents of Maple Grove have good access to public transportation.
Metra’s North Line stop at Davis St is two short blocks north of the building.
The CTA Purple Line stop at Davis St is just beyond the Metra stop.
Northwestern shuttles stop near Maple Grove. Four bus routes, #205, #208, #213 and #250, have stops on Davis north of the building.
All of Evanston has relatively inconvenient access to Chicago’s airports and to I-90/94 and the expressway grid.
Enterprise CarShare and Zipcar have locations near the building. Taxi service can be readily summoned to the building
The competition
Rentals are typically available in a number of nearby condo buildings, sometimes at lower rents than in the managed apartment buildings.
You’ll find additional options at YoChicago’s at-a-glance list of Evanston apartments.
Share your take on Maple Grove
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